Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay are charts that rank the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. Hot Country Songs ranks songs based on digital downloads, streaming, and airplay not only from country stations but from stations of all formats, a methodology introduced in 2012.[1] Country Airplay, which was published for the first time in 2012, is based solely on country radio airplay, a methodology which had previously been used for several decades for Hot Country Songs.[1] In 2017, seven different songs topped the Hot Country Songs chart and 34 different songs topped Country Airplay in 52 issues of the magazine.
![Singer Sam Hunt](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Sam_Hunt_at_C2C_Festival_2014.png/260px-Sam_Hunt_at_C2C_Festival_2014.png)
In the issue of Billboard dated February 25, singer Sam Hunt reached number one with the song "Body Like a Back Road", which would remain in the top spot through the issue dated October 14. In August, the song broke the record for the most weeks spent at number one on the Hot Country Songs listing, surpassing the 24 weeks spent in the top spot by Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" in 2012 and 2013.[2] Hunt's song was finally knocked from the top of the chart in the issue dated October 21 by "What Ifs" by Kane Brown featuring Lauren Alaina. Two months later, "Meant to Be" by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line entered the Hot Country chart at number one, only the fourth time a song had debuted in the top position of the Hot Country Songs chart.[3] The song would go on to break Hunt's record the following summer when it spent a 35th consecutive week at number one.[4] On the Country Airplay chart, Dustin Lynch had the longest run at number one of 2017, spending four consecutive weeks at the top with "Small Town Boy". Lynch tied with Blake Shelton for the highest total number of weeks at number one on that chart, both artists spending five weeks in the top spot. Shelton took three different songs to number one, a feat also achieved by Thomas Rhett. No act achieved more than one chart-topper on the Hot Country Songs listing.
Ten acts gained their first country number ones in 2017. Lauren Alaina topped the airplay chart for the first time in April with "Road Less Traveled"[5] and was subsequently featured on "What Ifs", which was the first chart-topper for Kane Brown,[6] reaching the top spot of both charts. Luke Combs topped the airplay chart in May with "Hurricane", his debut single,[7] and was immediately followed into the top spot by another debut chart-topper, Brett Young's "In Case You Didn't Know".[8] In July, Backstreet Boys, an internationally successful pop act since the 1990s,[9] gained their first and only country number one when they collaborated with Florida Georgia Line on the song "God, Your Mama, and Me".[10] Two weeks later, Maren Morris made her debut at number one thanks to her featured performance on Thomas Rhett's song "Craving You",[11] which was replaced in the top spot by "My Girl", the first number one for Dylan Scott.[12] In November, Carly Pearce took her debut single "Every Little Thing" to number one,[13] and the following week, the band Lanco gained its first chart-topper with "Greatest Love Story".[14] The final artist to reach number one for the first time in 2017 was Bebe Rexha. More closely associated with the pop music and R&B genres,[15] Rexha's collaboration with Florida Georgia Line was her first and only country hit.[16]
Chart history
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b McKinley, Jr., James C. (October 26, 2012). "Changes to Charts by Billboard Draw Fire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
- ^ Dukes, Billy (July 31, 2017). "Sam Hunt's 'Body Like a Back Road' Sets a Country Record". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Betts, Stephen L. (December 5, 2017). "On the Charts: Bebe Rexha, Florida Georgia Line Achieve Rare Country Feat". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Asker, Jim (July 30, 2018). "'Meant To Be' Breaks Record For Longest Rule In Hot Country Songs Chart's History". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ Konicki, Lisa (April 8, 2017). "Lauren Alaina Ugly Cries, Then Celebrates After Hearing "Road Less Traveled" Hit The No. 1 Spot". Nash Country Weekly. American Media. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
- ^ Morris, Edward (February 21, 2018). "Kane Brown Toasts First No. 1 "What Ifs"". CMT. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
- ^ Liptak, Carena (February 9, 2018). "Luke Combs Explains How His No. 1 Hits Changed His Life". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ Morris, Edward (June 1, 2017). "Brett Young Scores First Top Song with "In Case You Didn't Know"". CMT. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Backstreet Boys Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Maren Morris Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Dylan Scott Scores First Ever Number One With 'My Girl'". Rolling Stone. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ Houghton, Cillea (March 21, 2018). "Carly Pearce Pushes Past Nine Years of Struggle With First No. 1". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ Morris, Edward (January 5, 2018). "LANCO Celebrates Its First No. 1 "Greatest Love Story"". CMT. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ Nijjar, Aneet. "Bebe Rexha Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh (February 14, 2018). "Bebe Rexha Makes History On The Country Chart (On Her First Try)". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for January 7, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for January 7, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for January 14, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for January 14, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for January 21, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for January 21, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for January 28, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for January 28, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for February 4, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for February 4, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for February 11, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for February 11, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for February 18, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for February 18, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for February 25, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for February 25, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for March 4, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for March 4, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for March 11, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for March 11, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for March 18, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for March 18, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for March 25, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for March 25, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for April 1, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for April 1, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for April 8, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for April 8, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for April 15, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for April 15, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for April 22, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for April 22, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for April 29, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for April 29, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for May 6, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for May 6, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for May 13, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for May 13, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for May 20, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for May 20, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for May 27, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for May 27, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for June 3, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for June 3, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for June 10, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for June 10, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for June 17, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for June 17, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for June 24, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for June 24, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for July 1, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for July 1, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for July 8, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for July 8, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for July 15, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for July 15, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for July 22, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for July 22, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for July 29, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for July 29, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for August 5, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for August 5, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for August 12, 2017t". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for August 12, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for August 19, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for August 19, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for August 26, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for August 26, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for September 2, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for September 2, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for September 9, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for September 9, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for September 16, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for September 16, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for September 23, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for September 23, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for September 30, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for September 30, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for October 7, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for October 7, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for October 14, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for October 14, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for October 21, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for October 21, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for October 28, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for October 28, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for November 4, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for November 4, 2017". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for November 11, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for November 11, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for November 18, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for November 18, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for November 25, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for November 25, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for December 2, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for December 2, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for December 9, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for December 9, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for December 16, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for December 16, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for December 23, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for December 23, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- ^ "Country Songs chart for December 30, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ "Country Airplay chart for December 30, 2017". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2017.